adhesive
coated with glue, paste, mastic, or other sticky substance: adhesive bandages.
sticking fast; sticky; clinging.
Physics. of or relating to the molecular force that exists in the area of contact between unlike bodies and that acts to unite them.
a substance that causes something to adhere, as glue or rubber cement.
Philately. a postage stamp with a gummed back, as distinguished from one embossed or printed on an envelope or card.
Origin of adhesive
1Other words from adhesive
- ad·he·sive·ly, adverb
- ad·he·sive·ness, noun
- non·ad·he·sive, adjective
- non·ad·he·sive·ly, adverb
- non·ad·he·sive·ness, noun
- sem·i·ad·he·sive, adjective
- sem·i·ad·he·sive·ly, adverb
- sem·i·ad·he·sive·ness, noun
- un·ad·he·sive, adjective
- un·ad·he·sive·ly, adverb
- un·ad·he·sive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for adhesive
/ (ədˈhiːsɪv) /
able or designed to adhere; sticky: adhesive tape
tenacious or clinging
a substance used for sticking objects together, such as glue, cement, or paste
Derived forms of adhesive
- adhesively, adverb
- adhesiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for adhesive
[ ăd-hē′sĭv ]
A substance, such as paste or cement, that causes two surfaces to stick together. Adhesives are made of gelatin or other substances, such as epoxy, resin, or polyethylene.
Relating to adhesion.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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